With an NFL-best record of 10-2, the Arizona Cardinals are expected to be a shoo-in for the playoffs, and clinch a playoff spot. And they could very well do so this weekend.

The Cardinals are one of three NFC teams that can clinch a playoff spot in Week 14, along with the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the Packers and Buccaneers can nab a division title, the Cardinals are not in that position. (Not yet, at least.)

Still, the fact that the Cardinals are in position to capture a division title is a testament to how much the team has improved under head coach Kliff Kingsbury since finishing 3-13 in 2018. For now, they must focus on making it to the playoffs…and there are multiple ways that they can do it.

Clinching Scenarios

A lot of things have to play out for the Cardinals to clinch a playoff berth. First, they would have to win (or tie) against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football. But if they lose, not all hope would be lost – three other scenarios would have to play out on Sunday.

A Minnesota Vikings loss/tie and a San Francisco 49ers would also help Arizona clinch. If the Vikings lose, but the 49ers don’t, the Cardinals would need both the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers to lose or tie. If the 49ers lose rather than the Vikings, the Saints would have to lose/tie, and the Panthers and Atlanta Falcons would have to tie.

All in all, the Cardinals have four different scenarios in regards to clinching a playoff spot. Given how they’ve been playing this year, they could very well clinch a playoff berth sooner than later. And with Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins healthy and back in the fold, it would be no hard task. The end of the six-year playoff drought is very much on the horizon.

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